“What’s it going to be then, eh?”

The tavern in the 4th ward was a madhouse. The place was dirty, decrepit, and full of drunks. People were passed out on the floor, others fought in the middle of the room, and a few more were high, mumbling to themselves. Blood stained the walls and drug needles littered the floor. The room was lit by some lanterns placed on the ceiling but they hardly lit the room. At one table in the tavern, located in the back corner of it were three teenagers dressed in black vests, black undershirts, and blue denim jeans. Two of them were male, and wore black beanies. The third was a female adorned with long curly black hair that went down to her waist. Her eyes were a light brown, and had a scar on her right cheek. She repeated the question.

“What’s it going to be then, eh?”

Her compatriots looked on in silence, as if scared to say the wrong thing.

“What do you wanna do Clockwork?” one of them finally spoke.

“Something fun to alleviate the boredom. Something that’ll get people talking.”

“All people have been talking about are the Outliers and how they wrecked the Seraphs.”

“Yes yes I’m well aware, my dear ole brother. For the past 4 days it’s been Outlier this, Outlier that! I’m getting sick of it! Bet they think they’re something for wrecking a bunch of nobodies. I hate it. Bet Iron thinks he’s with the big boys now eh? I wanna do something that’ll make people forget about the fuckin’ Outliers for five seconds.”

“How do we do that?”

“We’ll see. Let’s see where the night takes us.”

Clockwork stood up, began to head out the tavern. The drunks and everyone else got out of her way, knowing what would happen if they didn’t.

Clockwork travelled through the 4th ward with her fellow ruffians, looking for something to do. It was about 3 am, the streets lit by light posts. In the fourth ward the streets they walked on were made of cobblestone, the buildings made of concrete. It was slightly better looking than the 6th and 7th wards, but still grimy and disgusting nonetheless. They stopped underneath a light post, spotting someone travelling alone not too far ahead of them. It wasn’t possible to discern who they were but it brought a smile to Clockwork’s face.

“Dear ole brothers, how about we perform a bit of good old fashioned mega-violence?”

The two nodded in agreement. She walked her way to the traveler, seeing that it was a middle aged man wearing a brown suit. He was balding and wore big round glasses, looking scared.

“Oh no oh no oh no. I just had to do overtime.” he murmured to himself.

“You ok gramps?” Clockwork asked, her two goons standing menacingly behind her.

“Y-yes I’m fine. P-please don’t mind me. I-I’m just waiting for the cable car.”

“Are you positive? It can get dangerous at night. Who knows who could be roaming the streets at this hour.”

“I-I know.”

“Some droog can come outta the shadows and do you real harm.”

“Y-yes.”

“So what’s your story old man? You're a corporate drone? Working day in and day out?”

The man took a step back, still fearful for his own safety.

“I-I’m an accountant.”

“Oh? You hear that boys? Good with numbers. Bet you went to school and all that.”

“Y-yes.”

“You got a wife and kids?”

“Yes. A wife and two daughters.”

Clockwork smiled widely and chuckled, as if she just thought of something hilarious.

“That’s great. Wonderful even. This guy here is living the dream huh? He did it. Got a good paying job, had a family.”

The man didn’t know what to say. The whole conversation made him uncomfortable. He was hoping that either a guardsman would appear or the cable car would arrive.

“But look at him. This is what we strive for? This is the end goal? We work for some company until we get old? Where’s the fun? Where’s the rush?”

“I-I should probably just walk back.” the man said, walking away from them.

He was only able to take a few steps before Clockwork cut him off, standing in his path.

“Your life, isn’t fulfilling is it? It’s awful. You hate it don’t you? You hate how pathetic your life is.”

“I-I really need to get going. Please just-”

Clockwork punched him in the stomach, forcing him to the ground. He began to cough.

“You and your wife probably hate each other. Thinking of divorcing any day now. The spark is gone. I pity you old man. You deserve to be released from the monotony, from the rut.”

Her two compatriots began to kick the man as he tried to curl up into a ball to defend himself. Clockwork watched, enjoying how the man’s blood splattered onto the ground. However, after about a minute of seeing it, she began to frown.

“No no! Something’s off! It’s not...violent enough.”

She reached for her back, where a large knife was sheaved. She took it out, bent down, looking at the man.

“More blood has to flow. No one cares about a man beaten to death. People want to be revolted when they read the papers. We have to make it gruesome. Make it fun.”

“I would stop if I were you.” a voice echoed.

Clockwork stood up, whirled around.

Down the street was a man dressed in brown leather armor. He had shaggy red hair, light green eyes, and had a sword sheathed on his hip. A tribal tattoo went up the side of his left cheek. On his back was a large knapsack filled with something. From his appearance it was clear what he was. The man was an adventurer, a.k.a: a monster hunter. Seeing him brought Clockwork intense feelings of joy. Adventurers were revered, and strong.

“Leave the man alone” he said, approaching them.

“You’re from the adventurer’s guild aren’t you? What’s our state’s guild called? Angel’s folly or something?” she asked.

“That’s right. What gave it away? The tatoo only members of the guild have?”

“Heh, you’re a funny one.”

“Now let the man go.”

“Sure. Dear ole brother, let him go.”

One of the goons reached into his back, taking out a flintlock pistol. He nonchalantly put the barrel to the man’s head and pulled the trigger. The adventurer’s eyes widened in shock. He dropped the bag, emitting a light red aura from his body. Within a few seconds he rushed in, closing the distance between himself and the group. He appeared in front of the armed goon, kicked him in the stomach. The blow sent him rolling down the street. He then knocked Clockwork and the other goon away with punches, separating them. She rolled on the floor, eventually landing on her back.

“You seem upset. Did I offend you?” she questioned, looking up at the cloudy night sky.

“That was a mistake. Now you’re all going to spend the rest of your lives in prison.” the adventurer told her.

“Ahhh you only go to prison if you get caught.”

She sat up, smiling.

“I take it that means you want to fight? That knapsack over there is full of troll heads you know.” he said, pointing at it. “You don’t want this.”

“Oh but I do. I want it so badly. If everyone knows I killed an adventurer, our rep is gonna go through the roof. People won’t be talking about Iron and the Outliers. No, they’ll be talking about Clockwork and the Slaughterhouse Vandals.”

She got up, brandishing her large knife. It was about 18 centimeters long, its blade reflecting the moonlight.

“Kids these days have no morals” the adventurer mumbled, unsheathing his sword.

The adventurer started to summon magic. Fire began to flow around his body, indicating that the fight had started. He pointed his free hand at Clockwork, shooting a fireball. It zoomed to her but she calmly swatted it away, making it dissipate. Suddenly she vanished from sight, making the adventurer widen his eyes in surprise.

“Fire huh? That better not be all” he heard to his left.

His head swiveled, saw that Clockwork had appeared on his side, secreting a dark blue aura of her own. Before he could swing his sword, the girl punched him in the side of his stomach. He moaned in pain but was able to grab onto her arm. He followed up with a headbutt, making her stumble back. He stepped in swinging his sword. To his surprise Clockwork was able to deflect his blade with her knife. They began a back and forth, their weapons clanging. The adventurer was distrubed by the exchange, the girl before him was supposed to be nothing more than a violent street rat, yet here she was able to keep up with a trained adventurer with nothing more than a knife. He’d have to take her seriously. He stepped in, elbowing her in the nose, breaking it. He then kicked her in the thigh, causing her to lean a bit to the side. To finish the combo he drove his fist into her head, sending her body flying to a nearby wall, across the street. Her body bounced off the wall, hitting the ground. The adventurer exhaled loudly, having used quite a bit of power to hit so hard. But she should’ve been knocked out by the attacks. Suddenly he began to hear sniggering coming from the girl. She slowly got up, blood pouring out of her nose.

“So that’s what you’re going to do. Let’s try that again.”

The two of them started to move in reverse. The girl got back onto the ground, then defying the law of gravity itself, reversed back to the position she was in before being sent flying away. The adventurer himself went back, undoing his actions. It was as if someone was watching the fight and decided to rewind it so they could replay the scene. The two of them were now in the same spot, about to begin the exchange of sword and knife. They started to move forward again, doing the same moves they had just performed. However something was different now. Clockwork’s eyes were wide, full of excitement. The adventurer was the same as before. He didn’t know he had been rewound. Once more he stepped in, seeking to elbow his opponent in the nose. This time Clockwork blocked the blow with her left forearm. He tried to kick her in the thigh but she blocked that as well. He went in to throw a punch but she grabbed his fist, jamming her knife into his forearm. She ripped it out, causing blood to pour onto the ground. Seeing he needed to make some distance his body started to emit fire all around his body. The heat was hot enough to make Clockwork jump back for safety.

“What’s wrong? Things aren’t going to plan?” she taunted.

The adventurer’s eyes narrowed at her, trying to figure out what happened. How did she predict his moves? Was she just that experienced at fighting?

“Did you just use magic?” he asked.

“Hey I find that offensive. You don’t believe I’m just that skilled?”

“Not in the slightest. There’s no way I’m getting bested by a punk. What’s your warclass?”

Warclass: the category a powerful fighter was classified into. There were 7 main classes: swordsman, archer, tamer, thief, magician, monk, and lancer. All had different affinities when it came to what magic spells and aura abilities one was able to use. Some leaned more towards aura usage such as the monk, while others used primarily magic, such as the magician. The Warclass classification system was created by the adventurer guilds to help its members form balanced parties for monster hunts. It was also used by the military for squad composition. If the adventurer could figure out his opponent’s Warclass, he could narrow down the abilities she could possess.

“A Warclass? Hah! I reject all labels. Find them too limiting.” Clockwork spat.

Seeing that the girl wasn’t going to outright tell him, the adventurer decided he’d have to end things before she could cast anything. He was a swordsman, so casting spells wasn’t his forte, preferring to use his sword skills to win fights. However his left arm was in severe pain, the gash in his forearm had probably cut some nerves since couldn’t form a fist with his left hand. He had to win with just one arm.

One arm was all he needed. He had a plan. Fire started to swirl around his sword held in his good arm, turning the blade into a fiery inferno. Clockwork watched on in excitement, wondering what he was about to do. He aimed the sword at her. Fire erupted from the tip, blasting down the street. Fire engulfed everything in a wall of orange, obscuring Clockwork’s vision. However none of the flames burned for her coat of aura served as shield. Out of the flames emerged the tip of the adventurer's sword. She noticed it too late to dodge. The blade pierced through her stomach, causing her to cough up blood. The flames that had engulfed everything disappeared, the adventurer stopping his spell before the fire could do any real damage to the surrounding area. He was in front of Clockwork, holding onto the sword that had gone through her.

He gazed into her eyes, said “Not bad kid. You would’ve made a fine adventurer. If only you made better life choices”

He yanked the sword out of her gut, making her fall to the ground into a pool of blood. The adventurer looked at his arm, realizing that he’ll have to go find a 24 hour vendor to get a healing potion. He slowly walked away from the girl, picked up the knapsack he had been carrying. After he picked it up the adventurer began to walk away from the scene when he sensed something. He whirled around, saw that Clockwork had gotten back onto her feet.

“Wha-”

“Hehehehehe so that’s what you’re going to do. Let’s try that again.”

Once more they began to move in reverse. Going back to their previous positions, to the point to where he was about to cast his massive fire spell.

“Come on! Bring it!” she yelled, eager for the attack.

Despite sensing something was wrong in his gut, he shot the fire from his sword, engulfing the street before him in flames. He ran in, knowing that the distraction would prevent his opponent from moving. The adventurer thrusted his sword, expecting to inflict the killing blow. He felt nothing. His blade had hit nothing but air. He quickly made the flames disappear, knowing he had to find the girl as soon as possible. As soon as the flames were gone, a knife was plunged into his temple from just outside his field of view. Clockwork stood to his right, her knife having gone into the adventurer's brain. They stood as quietude ensued. She broke the silence by cackling madly.

“That was fun” she commented, pulling her weapon out.

The adventuer’s corpse fell forward. She stared down at it as her two compatriots regrouped with her. They had watched the whole fight, knowing it would’ve been suicide to have tried to help. If they did, Clockwork may have killed them for interrupting her fun.

“You actually did it,” one of them said in astonishment.

“Yeah Clockwork, you actually killed an adventurer.” the other added.

“Yes dear ole brothers, I did a good bit of good ole fashioned mega violence. Everyone will know the Slaughterhouse Vandals are a heavy set. No more bullshit talk about the Outliers that’s for damn sure.” she replied, putting her knife away.

A crow cawed in the distance, making them look up. They saw a crow flying in the night sky, approaching them. It landed on the adventurer’s corpse.

“Slaughterhouse Vandals!” it squawked. “Congratulations!”

One of Clockwork’s compatriots took out his flintlock pistol, aimed it at the bird.

“I wouldn’t pull the trigger if I were you boy. Do it and I’ll end your bloodline” the crow threatened.

“Put it away dear ole brother.” Clockwork ordered. “How can we help you birdie?”

“You’ve been invited to the parlee! Your work tonight has impressed us. Send 7 representatives to the old arena on the 1st of Dayspring by 1 am. No weapons! The boss has a message you have been deemed worthy enough to hear.”

“Heh boss eh? You’re LS-95 aren’t ya? Y’all think you run shit.”

“We do run things girl. Don’t mock us. You should be ecstatic I’ve appeared.”

“So this thing’s a parlee? How many gangs were invited?”

“Only the ones that matter.”

A figurative lightbulb went on in her head.

“Will the Outliers be there?”

“Yes. They’ve caught our eye, hold promise.”

“And your boss will be there?”

“Yes! Are you hard of hearing?”

“No no, just wanted to make sure. We’ll be there. We’ll definitely be there.”

“Good. We’ll make sure the guardsmen won’t learn you were responsible for killing the adventurer to ensure you make it.”

The crow flew away into the night, leaving the trio alone.

“What’re you thinking, Clockwork?” one of the boys asked.

With a smile on her face she said “I got something fun planned”